Electric game



panying drawings in which- 'Patented Nora-15; 1 92 7.

UNITED S ATE PATENT em E.,"

um n-mnann, or erson, moment.

ntscrnr'c em I application m December 11, was.- seru are. 154,050.-

vide a game in which a .ball is controlle on a game board by means ofamultipllclty of electro-magnets the magnets being energized by theplayers by means of a key board provided for each player. v

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement whereby theball breaks the circuit for. the electro-magnet when positioned over thepole piece thereof so that the ball is then influenced by adjacenteiectro-magnets.

The object of the game is for the player to control the ball in a mannerto win the game against the eiiorts of the other player to control theball.

These objects and the several novel features of the invention arehereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form ofconstruction by which these objects are attained is shown in the accom-Fig. l is a plan View of a game board embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 IS a section through a portion of the game board or table.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the circuit for one of theelectro-magnets.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the game board 1 is provided with amultiplicity of apertures 2 therein. Beneath the game board are a seriesof electro-magnets 3 each having a pole piece 4 positioned beneath oneof the apertures 2. The game board 1 is preferably of fibre or otherdielectric material. Each electro-magnet is provided with a member 5formed of brass, copper or other non-magnetic metal and this member issecured to the respective electro-magnet at 6. The member 5 is providedwith a portion 7 filling the aperture 2 and the end 8 of the member 5normally engages a contact member 9 on the electro-magnet. The member 5itself is provided with sufficient sprin tension to normally engage thiscontact Tint a light spring may be used for this purpose if desired. v

The ball 10 with which the game is played is formed of magnetic metaland is preferabl hollow so as not to be too has. This he is attracted todifferent points a ut the game board by-energization of the different it'electro-magnets .& circuit for energizing one of these ei-ectro-magnetsis indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 3. A battery 11 is provided towhich a wire 12 is connected.

This wire 12 at the opposite end is connected to. the member 5 at thepoint 6, the

member 5 thus forming part of the circuit. i

A wire 13 connects the contact 9' with the coil 14 of the electro-magnetand a wire 15 connects the electro-magnet with the two w res 16 and 1?.A switch key 18 is pro-' vided in the circuitlS and is pivoted at 19 anda light spring 20 normally holds this switch member out of engagementwith the contact 21. iihen this switch key is depressed by the operatorthe circuit is closed to energize the electro-magnet. A similar switchis provided in the circuit 17 for the players opponent. When either ofthese switches is closed the electro-magnet is energized thus attractingthe metal ball 1O which rollsonzo the face 7 of the member 5 and theweight of the ball together with the attraction of the magnet for theball depresses the member 5 to move the end 8 away from the contact 9thus breaking, the I clrcuit'for the ele'ctro-magnet so that adjacentenergized eiectro-magnets will influence the ball. These switch keys arearranged on opposite sides of the game board as shown in Fig. 1 and arearranged to correspond with the holes 2 in the game board. By thisarrangement either player by depressing one of the switch-keys mayenergize the corresponding electro-magnet on the game board. By. thisarrangement the ball may be made to travel about the game board by theattraction of the different electromagnets and the skill of the player1n manipulating ineball against the skill of the other player inattempting to control p the ball pic ides the element of contest.Several difiei cn: games may be played with the arrangement. shown inFig. 1. In one tyKpe of game the game board may be consi ered as afootball field and the object of the game is to getthe ball to one endof the field or the oiher, one end of the field being assigned to eachplayer. Another game may be played by using a non-metallic ball 22 andproviding four pockets 23. The object of this game is to so manipulatethe magnetic ball 10- as to drive the nonmetallic'ball 2:2 into one ofthe pockets. When one of the magnets is energized the ball 10 in movingthereover breaks the circuit to the articular magnet so that ad'acentenergiz magnets attractthe ball. y this arrangement a player by ra idmanipulation of the keys may cause the all-to'roll about the board andat the same time the opponent a magnets.

of game that can be played Another type on this boar consists inutilizing severalmetal balls which may be placed on thetable. In thisarran .ment the multiplicity of keys 4 for closing t e individualcircuits may e done away with and a switch 1s provided which closes allthe circuits simultaneously.

This causes the balls to travel about the table in all directions andthe ballsas they pass over the diflerent electro-magnets break thecircuits to these magnets as hereinbefore energization of theelectro-magnets and 11' described and are attracted by other megnets Inthis game the pockets 23 are given difierent values andthe several ballswill travel about the table in all directions-until all the balls rollinto the ockets. This provides a game of chance in which the score isdetermined blyl' the values of the pockets in which the ba 5 roll.

From the foregoingA description it becomes evident that a game aving allthe elements of hard fought contests may be played in this manner andthe arrangement rovicles a device which accomplishes the ob ectsdescribed.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode ofoperation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is- 1. In an electric game, a multiplicity ofelectro-1nagnets, a circuit for each electromagnet, a. pair of switchkeys in each circuiteach adapted to close the circuit, a tablepositioned over the electro-magnets and provided with an aperture overthe pole piece of each electromagnet, a magnetic ball movable about thetable by energizat-ion of the electro-magnets and a contact memberextending into each aperture in the table and adapted to break thecircuit to the respective electro ma et as the ball moves thereover.

2. An e ect-ric game comprising a multiplicitv of electro-magnets, aseries of circuits for the electro-magnets", a multiplicity of switchkeys each adapted to close the circuit to one of the magnets, a tablepositioned over the eleotro-magnets'and pro-' vided'with an apertureover the pole piece of each electro magnet, a magnetic ball' adapted tobe attracted about the table by electro-ma contact member extending intoeach apeI-' ture in the table and adapted to break the circuit to therespective electro-magnet as the ball moves thereover.

3. In an electric game, a multiplicity of I electro-magnets a tablepositioned over the ets SIiCiPIOVldBd with an aperture over t e polepiece of each electro-mgvnet, a pair or snitch boards each provided witha multiplicity oi switches for controlling the circuits to theelectromagnets, a-

magnetic ball movable about the table by encrgizatien or: theelectro-magnets and a contact member extending into each aperture in thetable and adapted tobreak the circuit to the respective electro-magnetas the ball moves thereover.

4. In an electric ame, a multiplicity of electro-magnets, a tablepositioned over the electro-macnets and provided with an aperture overnet, a switchboard on each side of the table,

a multiplicity of switches on each switch board for closing the circuitsto all of the electro-magnets, a magnetic ball movable about the tableby energizat-ion of the electro-magnets and a member positioned in epole piece of each elect-ro-mageach aperture in the table and adapted tobreak the circuit to the respective electromagnet as the ball movesthereover.

5. In an electric game, a multiplicity of electro-magnets, a tablepositioned over the electro-magnets and provided with anaperture overthe pole piece of each electro-magnet, a magnetic ball movable about thetable by energization of vthe electro-magnets and 'a contact memberextending into each aperadapted to break the circuit for the respectiveelectro-magnet as the ball is moved thereover.

7. In an electric game, a multiplicity of' electro-magnets, a tablepositioned over the electro-magmets and provided with an aperture overthe pole piece of each electr0-1nag net, a switch board on each side ofthe table, a multiplicity of switches on each switch board for closingthe circuits to the electromagnets and a magnetic ball movable about thetable by energization of the electro-magnets.

In testimony whereof I sign this specific tion LESLIE E,

